Cotton Research Institute was established in 1970.

The cotton research institute was

visited on 01.11.2010. Ch. Rehmat Ali Senior Scientific Officer / Head Plant Breading
and Genetics Section accompanied the participant into various research fields and also
sun house. In the filed various varieties of different strains which were under
experimental process were shown, late on section having machines with different
functions were displayed. This followed by a detailed presentation by Mr. Rehmat Ali.
Historical back ground starting from 5000 B.C. up to latest stage was discussed in detail.
The types of cotton along with the diseases from which the cotton suffers along with the
treatment was highlighted. The deliberation continued for more than two hours.

The Desi Cotton called Gorsypium Arboreum was as old as 5000 years. In 1905
Americans upland cotton named as Gosypium Hirsutum was discovered and after ten
long years its cultivation started an at present upland cotton is grown at 99% area.

The contribution of cotton in national economy is tremendous. It employs about 40% of

total employment in Pakistan. It contributes significantly towards foreign exchange
which is 60% of total earnings. It also contributes to edible oil industry which is 4%.

Punjab has the maximum cotton producing area which is 70% of total area on which
cotton grows, whereas, Sindh area on which cotton grown is 28%. In Khaber Pakhton
Khwa only Dera Ismail Khan is the only cotton producing area and combined with
Balouchistan contributes 1% of area.

The total area on which cotton is grown is 3.120 million hector acres and total number of
bales produced is 12.698 million bales. The statistics shows that there are 1007 total
ginneries and 458 textile mills. Total yarn production is 2.290 million kgs and total cloth
production is 925 million square meters.

There are different set ups in different cities which are doing a tremendous job in
research. Besides Multan Cotton Research Institute, Sakrand in Sindh is also involved in
research activities. In Punjab besides Multan, Sahiwal and Bahawalpur also have research
facilities. In Sindh Ghotki and Mirpur Khas, Khaber Pakhton Khwa has research center in
Dera Ismail Khan and Balouchistan has center in Sibi.

The objective which were set for cotton research institute has not been achieved because
of reasons beyond the control of administration. The research center receives no
monetary help neither from Federal nor Provincial Government. They manage there own
research through cotton cess which is Rs 20 per bale provided out of total budget of Rs
38.465 million 94% goes to establishment charges and only 6% is available for research
and other development activities.

The research center has provided sixteen different kinds of varieties having different
quality lengthwise which are cultivated in different districts as per choice of the farmers.
The longest staple cotton variety is CIM-707. The most prominent cotton variety is CIM-
496. There at least four more varieties which are in pipeline. These are CIM-557, CIM-
573, CIM-591 and CIM-608.
There are certain varieties which were of short duration, medium and long durations. The
whole process from cultivation to flower bearing is from 140 – 220 depending upon the
variety cultivate. These varieties help farmers to cultivate / sowing timely wheat crop
thus resulting in higher wheat productivity and helping in national economy. Efforts are
underway for Transgenic Cotton production and MOU has been signed with M/s Bio
Century (China) Ltd and M/s Guard Agriculture Services Lahore. A similar
understanding has been reached between Ministry of Food and Agriculture and M/S
Monsanto Pvt Ltd. This will help developing varieties with high fiber strength and length.

There are certain factors which affect the production / yield of cotton adversely.
Comparison with other countries such as Turkey, Egypt, USA shows that they have lower
temperature at day and night time. As Pakistan temperature is higher than those countries
it affect the cotton yield. Similarly other factors which affect the yield are soil health,
certain insects, viruses and pen complex. The major damages are done by cotton curl
virus which has no treatment what ever. The virus of the leaves hypertrophy thus
compromising poor supply and within days the plant dies down. Then another factor
which affects field is the way / scientific lines on which a farmer relies. Those farmers
who resort to progressive farming get significantly more return as compared t classical
general farmers.

Major threat to cotton in Pakistan is the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus. This was noticed for the
first time in 1967 and in 1996 resistant varieties surfaced which is totally untreatable
round the world. Then there are certain curl leave resistant varieties having good staple
length and strength for the first time in 2002-2003 it come to surface that certain curl
viruses resistant strains were affected by curl virus. This new development was witnessed
in Vehari, Khanewal, Pakpattan and Sahiwal.

To develop new curl leaf virus resistant strain requires 8 – 10 years. Cotton research
institute is working to develop a strain resistant to such viruses. White fly is the main
culprit in spreading this disease.

There are 8 wild varieties which are resistant to curl leaf curl virus. Genetic transfer of
resistant gene from desi cotton and wild species into upland cotton for making new
resistant varieties is underway.

There are certain other insects which destroy the cotton plant and effect the economy
badly. They are Termite, Grass Hopper, Cutworm, Black head cricket, Jassid, Aplnd,
Nites, Thrips, Spotted Boll Worm, American Boll Worm, Army Worm. The Biology and
Phonology of the pests are studied and effective chemicals are screened for their control.
Transfer of technology by dissemination of research findings to the farmers will help in
control of diseases. Master trainers and extension staff can play a big role into control of
diseases. Internship of Agricultures and Media can play a very significant role into
enlightening the farmers. Private public partnership can be useful in this respect.
Thus there is a cotton crop management group (CCMG) is headed by agriculture minister
Punjab and Secretary Agriculture, Agricultural Experts, Cotton growers, Pesticides and
Seeds Sector Pest Warning and Control Department, Irrigation Department is part of it. It
meets every 15 days but this year only one meeting placed.

The future thrust areas are development of high yield variety, early maturing, heat
resistant and drought ------- varieties, Development of Transgenic Cotton and
Development of high quality extra length staple cotton